We have two cats, each weighing between 10 and 12 pounds, and two dogs both weighing between 65 and 75 pounds. Although our dogs weigh 50 to 60 pounds more than our cats, have successfully kept several young men away from a young girl whom they were trying to kidnap, and have taken down raccoons and deer, when one of our cats lie in their path, they steer clear of them. As a matter of fact, and indeed even more importantly, they avoid eye contact with the cats at all costs. If I make them pass by our cats, they actually crane their necks in the opposite direction so as not even to make any eye contact. What a visual lesson for training our children to avoid contact with immorality. We humans often think that we are big enough to withstand most temptations, but our dogs’ example of concerted effort to avoid contact with an enemy much smaller than themselves displays great wisdom in that it is best to avoid sin rather than get into a knock-down, drag-out, all-out battle where even victory could still cost the victor deep, gashing wounds.

It is so hard to remain pure in such a blatantly seductive culture. However, let us continue to train our family to quickly turn their heads when wickedness is spotted. Sitting in the front of the vehicle gives Jon and I the capability of locating indecency before the children, so we often tell those in back to turn their heads in one direction or another.

Another area that requires vigilance is the advertisements that come into our homes via mail, so Sonia and I carefully scour the mail before anyone else has a chance to go through it.